Lancashire pothole crisis deepens with complaints still flooding in

But Evening Post readers reckon Preston, Leyland and Chorley can all beat that - by some way.

Our recent article about the poor state of the county’s roads this flood-hit winter drew hundreds of responses from angry motorists, cyclists and pedestrians claiming damage or injury caused by potholes.

And the debate is showing no sign of bottoming out, with scores more attacking County Hall highways bosses for shoddy repair work, or just ignoring the problems altogether.

According to the national cycling charity CTC, Lancashire has received the eighth highest number of complaints about serious potholes of all 214 local authorities across the country since 2007.

The charity says the Red Rose county has logged 2,813 reports of dangerous troublespots. Only around 27 per cent of those have been notified as fixed, claims its website Fillthathole.org.uk, leaving three-quarters still to be dealt with.

Most of those who wrote in to the Evening Post cited bad repair work as a reason for potholes opening up again soon after being filled.

“It’s a joke,” stormed Sam Will. “I’d hate to be a cyclist or biker. Someone is going to get killed.”

Rosheen Oboyle said: “I rang the council today regarding potholes. If it’s not a bad one then they’ll be out to it in 20 working days was what I was told.”

Martin Reynolds said: “There’s a huge one in Broadfield Drive, Leyland - so big you could lose an old mini in it.” And Claire Silcock added: “There are more and more potholes appearing all the time, it’s dangerous.”

One particularly nasty hole in Chapel Park Road, Longton has even been given its own warning sign to alert motorists.

County Hall’s highways chief Coun John Fillis insists the authority is doing its best to get on top of the problem, but this winter’s floods have made matters much worse.

“We’re doing our best at the moment to deal with all the problems caused by the floods,” he said. “And things will improve as we get on top of all the repairs which are needed. In the spring we will again begin a full programme of maintenance.”